Con

Anisha Patel, MD, Associate Professor at the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California at San Francisco, Laura A. Schmidt, PhD, Dr.PH, Professor at the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, and Diane Dooley, MD, Associate Clinical Professor at the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, in a Letter to the Editor published in the Dec. 2015 edition of Pediatrics titled "Chocolate Milk in Schools," wrote:

“The [American Academy of Pediatrics’] Committees’ endorsement of adding sugar to the milk of millions of schoolchildren conflicts with the majority of leading health organizations’ recommendations, such as the American Heart Association, which recommends that children consume only 3 to 4 teaspoons of added sugar per day. If a child drinks a single 8-oz carton of flavored milk at school, he or she will consume the recommended daily amount of added sugar in 1 sitting…

The evidence shows that sugar-sweetened beverages are a major source of excessive sugar intake for children and that excessive energy and sugar consumption can lead to obesity and dental caries. In light of these findings, we encourage these committees to critically review their statement and reconsider how flavored milk offerings in schools may affect children’s health and well-being.”

Dec. 2015